Information provision apparatus, server apparatus and information provision method

ABSTRACT

An information provision apparatus whereby information regarding a malfunction or problem that occurred during the use of a prescribed model of a home appliance can be shared with users using the same model of the home appliance. A device ( 20 ) has the following: a presentation-information reception unit ( 21 ) that receives presentation information generated by a server ( 10 ) and stores the presentation information in a prescribed storage unit; and a presentation unit ( 22 ) that presents the presentation information to the user of the device ( 20 ), the presentation information having been read out from the aforementioned storage unit. The presentation information indicates malfunctions or problems that occurred in devices that are the same model as the above-mentioned device ( 20 ) and were being used by other users.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, aserver apparatus, an information providing method and an informationproviding program for providing a user with information relating to homeappliances.

BACKGROUND ART

Systems have been proposed which predict maintenance and a remaininglife until the service life of a household electrical appliancethereinafter referred to as “home appliance”) comes to an end, fromoperation data when the appliance is used, notify a user of the homeappliance of maintenance timing and the predicted remaining life as timeinformation useful in daily life, and can thereby lead to preventivemaintenance when managing the appliance.

One such example is a refrigerator that measures an operating time of awater purification filter of a water supply tank and notifies the userof replacement of the water purification filter when the operating timeexceeds a predetermined value (e.g., see Patent Literature (hereinafterreferred to as “PTL”) 1).

Another example is an air-conditioner that measures an operating time ofa filter and notifies the user of replacement of the filter when theoperating time exceeds a predetermined value (e.g., see PTL 2).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1 Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2005-16871 PTL 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2006-145053 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The home appliances in PTLs 1 and 2 can notify the user of timing ofreplacement of consumables of home appliances actually used by the user,but cannot notify the user of information relating to malfunctions orproblems that have occurred in home appliances of the same model as theone actually used by the user but used by other users. Thus, with theappliances according to the related art, it is not possible to shareinformation relating to malfunctions or problems that occur which theappliances are used, among users of home appliances of the same model.

An object of the present invention is to provide an informationproviding apparatus, a server apparatus, an information providing methodand an information providing program capable of sharing, among users,information relating to malfunctions or problems that have occurred indevices of a predetermined model.

Solution to Problem

An information providing apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention includes: a presentation information receiving section thatreceives presentation information generated by a server apparatus andstores the presentation information in a predetermined storage section;and a presentation section that presents the presentation informationread from the storage section to a user of a predetermined device, inwhich the presentation information is information indicating amalfunction or problem that has occurred in a model identical to that ofthe device used by another user.

A server apparatus according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes: at malfunction/problem information collection section thatcollects malfunction/problem information indicating malfunctions orproblems that have occurred in devices used by a plurality of users,respectively, and stores the malfunction/problem information in apredetermined storage section; a presentation information generationsection that generates presentation information indicating malfunctionsor problems that have occurred in the devices based on themalfunction/problem information read from the storage section; and apresentation information transmitting section that transmits thepresentation information to an apparatus used by a user using a modelidentical to that of the device.

An information providing method according to an aspect of the presentinvention is a method to be performed in a server apparatus disposed ona network, the method including: collecting malfunction/probleminformation indicating malfunctions or problems that have occurred indevices used by a plurality of users, respectively, and storing themalfunction/problem information in a predetermined, storage section;generating presentation information indicating the malfunctions orproblems that have occurred in the devices based on themalfunction/problem information read from the storage section; andtransmitting the presentation information to an apparatus used by a userusing the model identical to that of the device.

An information providing program according to an aspect of the presentinvention is a program to be executed by a computer disposed on anetwork, the program causing the computer to execute processingincluding: collecting malfunction/problem information indicatingmalfunctions or problems that have occurred in devices used by aplurality of users, respectively, and storing the malfunction/probleminformation in a predetermined storage section; generating presentationinformation indicating the malfunctions or problems that have occurredin the devices based on the malfunction/problem information read fromthe storage section; and transmitting the presentation information to anapparatus used by a user using the model identical to that of thedevice.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to share, amongusers, information relating to malfunctions or problems that haveoccurred in devices of a predetermined model.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of an overallpicture of an information providing system according to Embodiments 1and 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of theinformation providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of theinformation providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a collecting example ofmalfunction/problem information according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are diagrams illustrating an example of presentation ofpresentation information according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of aninformation providing system according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of as malfunction rate curveaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of theinformation providing system according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a collection example ofmalfunction/problem information according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a collection example of usage logaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating presentation examples ofinformation provided by the information providing system according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of aserver and a device according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating service type 1 (in-house data centertype) according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating service type 2 (type using IaaS)according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating service type 3 (type using PaaS)according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating service type 4 (type using SaaS)according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

(Overall Picture of Service Provided)

FIG. 1A illustrates an overall image of an information providing systemaccording to the present embodiment.

Group 90 is, for example, a company, organization or home, whatever thesize is. In group 90, there are a plurality of devices 91: device A anddevice 13, and home gateway 92. The plurality of devices 91 includedevices connectable to the Internet (e.g., smartphone, PC, TV) anddevices not connectable to the Internet on their own (e.g.,illumination, washing machine, and refrigerator). Among the devices notconnectable to the Internet on their own, there may be devices thatbecome connectable to the Internet via home gateway 92. In group 90,there is/are user/users I who uses/use the plurality of devices 91.

Data center operating company 110 includes cloud server 111. Cloudserver 111 refers to a virtualization server that operates incoordination with various devices via the Internet. Cloud server 111mainly manages huge data (big data) or the like that is hard to handleusing a normal database management tool or the like. Data centeroperating company 110 performs data management, management of cloudserver 111 or operation of the data center that performs suchmanagement, and so on.

Details of services rendered by data center operating company 110 willbe described later. Here, data center operating company 110 is notlimited to only companies that perform data management or operation ofcloud server 111. For example, when a device maker that develops ormanufactures one of the plurality of devices 91 also performs datamanagement or management of cloud server 111, the device makercorresponds to data center operating company 110 (FIG 1B). Data centeroperating company 110 is not limited to one company. For example, when adevice maker and another management company are jointly performing ortaking partial charge of data management or operation of cloud server111, both or one of the two correspond(s) to data center operatingcompany 110 (FIG. 1C).

Service provider 120 owns server 121. Server 121 referred to hereincludes, for example, a memory in a personal PC, whatever the scale is.Moreover, there is also a case where the service provider does not ownserver 121.

Note that home gateway 92 is not mandatory in the above-describedservice. For example, when cloud, server 111 is perforating whole datamanagement, home gateway 92 is unnecessary. There can be a case wheredevice not connectable to the Internet on its own does not exist as inthe case where all devices in a home are connected to the Internet.

Next, an information flow in the above-described service will bedescribed.

First, device A or device B of group 90 transmits each piece of loginformation to cloud server 111 of data center operating company 110.Cloud server 111 accumulates log information of device A or device B((a) in FIG. 1A). Here, the log information is information indicating,for example, an operation situation, operation date and time of theplurality of devices 91. Examples of the log information include a TVviewing history video recording reservation information of a recorder,operation date and time of a washing machine, the amount of laundry,date and time of opening/closing of a refrigerator, the number of timesthe refrigerator is opened/closed, however the log information is notlimited to these examples and the log information refers to allinformation obtainable from all kinds of devices. The log informationmay be provided from the plurality of devices 91 themselves to cloudserver 111 directly via the Internet. The log information may beaccumulated from the plurality of devices 91 in home gateway 92temporarily and then provided from home gateway 92 to cloud server 111.

Next, cloud server 111 of data center operating company 110 provides theaccumulated log information to service provider 120 in a fixed unit.Here, the unit may be one that allows information accumulated by thedata center operating company to be organized and provided to serviceprovider 120 or may be one requested by service provider 120. Althoughthe unit has been described as a “fixed unit,” the unit may not be fixedbut the amount of information provided may vary depending on thesituation. The log information is stored in server 121 owned by serviceprovider 120 as required ((b) in FIG. 1A). Service provider 120organizes the log information into information suitable for a service tobe provided to the user and provides the log information to the user.The user who provides the log information may be user 1 who uses theplurality of devices 91 or external user 2. As for a method of providinga service to the user, the service may be provided, for example,directly to the user from the service provider ((e) and (f) in FIG. 1A).As another method of providing a service to the user, the service may beprovided to the user, for example, via cloud server 111 of data centeroperating company 110 again ((c) and (d) in FIG. 1A). Moreover, cloudserver 111 of data center operating company 110 may organize loginformation into information suitable for a service to be provided tothe user and then provide the log information to service provider 120.

Note that user 1 may be different from or identical to user 2.

Embodiment 1

Embodiment 1 will be described.

A configuration example of information providing system 100 according tothe present embodiment will be described using FIG. 2 first. FIG. 2 is ablock diagram illustrating the configuration example of informationproviding system 100.

In FIG. 2, information providing system 100 of the present embodimentincludes server 10 (an example of the server apparatus of the presentinvention), device 20 (an example of the information providing apparatusof the present invention). Server 10 and device 20 are connected via awired network, a wireless network or a network in which wired andwireless networks are mixed. Note that although only one device 20 isillustrated in FIG. 2, suppose a plurality of devices 20 exist. Supposethat the plurality of devices 20 are of the same model.

Suppose device 20 is an appliance such as a television, cleaner, aircleaner, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave oven, air-conditioner,electric tooth brush, dryer. Alternatively, device 20 may be aninformation terminal such as personal computer, mobile phone,smartphone, tablet or a sensor such as blood glucose level sensor or aninstrument such as toilet, bathroom, mirror, illumination.

Furthermore, suppose that server 10 is a server operated and/or managedby a manufacturer or distributor of device 20 or agent entrusted by themanufacturer or distributor, for example.

Server 10 includes malfunction/problem information collection section11, presentation information generation section 12, and presentationinformation transmitting section 13.

Malfunction/problem information collection section 11 collectsmalfunction/problem information and stores the information in a storagesection (not shown) (e.g., corresponding to RAM 1005 or storageapparatus 1006 in FIG. 12). The malfunction/problem information refersto information indicating malfunctions or problems generated in theplurality of devices 20 respectively. The malfunction/probleminformation is data reported at any time from each user using device 70and a collection of such data is data called “big data,” for example.Specific examples of the malfunction/problem information will bedescribed later using FIG. 4.

Presentation information generation section 12 reads themalfunction/problem information collected by malfunction/probleminformation collection section 11 from the storage section and generatespresentation information based on action information thereof. Thepresentation information is information indicating a malfunction orproblem that has occurred in each device 20. Specific examples ofgeneration of the presentation information will be described later.

Presentation information transmitting section 13 transmits thepresentation information generated by presentation informationgeneration section 12 to each device 20.

Device 20 includes presentation information receiving section 21 andpresentation section 22.

Presentation information receiving section 21 receives the presentationinformation transmitted from presentation information transmittingsection 13 of server 10. The received presentation information is storedin the storage section (not shown) (e.g., corresponding to RAM 1005 orstorage apparatus 1006 in FIG. 12).

Presentation section 22 reads the presentation information received bypresentation information receiving section 21 from the storage sectionand presents the presentation information to the user of device 20 usinga predetermined method. A presentation example is a method that displaysan image of the presentation information on a display provided on device20. This image display may be accompanied by sound (e.g., effect sound,guide speech) output. A specific example of presentation of thepresentation information will be described later using FIG. 5.

Note that although not shown in FIG. 2, device 20 includes amalfunction/problem information generation section that generatesmalfunction/problem information indicating a malfunction or problem thathas occurred in device 20 and a malfunction/problem informationtransmitting section that transmits the generated malfunction/probleminformation to server 10.

Next, an operation example of information providing system 100 accordingto the present embodiment will be described using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is asequence diagram illustrating an operation example of informationproviding system 100 of the present embodiment. Note that a washingmachine will be described below as an example of device 20.

In step S1, malfunction/problem information collection section 11 ofserver 10 collects malfunction/problem information from devices 20 usedfor a plurality of users respectively via, for example, the Internet.

Malfunction/problem information collection section 11 creates a datatable that lists the malfunction/problem information, collected fromrespective devices 20 and stores the data table in the storage section.An example of the data table is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an example oflisting of the collected malfunction/problem information.

In FIG. 4, the malfunction/problem information includes user ID 301,model ID 302 and malfunction/problem state 303. User ID 301 isidentification information assigned to each user using a device of apredetermined model. Model ID 302 is identification information assignedto each model of a device used by each user. Malfunction/problem state303 is information indicating the state of a malfunction or problem. Inthe example in FIG. 4, malfunction/problem state 303 indicates amalfunction or problem of a washing machine. Malfunction/probleminformation collection section 11 collects malfunction/probleminformation having same model ID 302 (“A73214E” in the example in FIG.4), integrates them and creates the data table shown in FIG. 4.

In step S2, presentation information generation section 12 reads, forexample, the data table shown in FIG. 4 from the storage section,extracts a predetermined state from malfunction/problem state 303 of thedata table and generates presentation information including the state inthe presentation contents. For example, presentation informationgeneration section 12 calculates the total number by type ofmalfunction/problem state 303 and extracts a state in which the totalnumber exceeds a predetermined threshold (value indicating a priority ofpresentation). For example, in the data table in FIG. 4, if the totalnumber of “abnormal noise during rotation of the laundry sink” exceeds athreshold, presentation information generation section 12 extracts“abnormal noise during rotation of the laundry sink” as a state to bepresented to the user. Presentation information generation section 12then generates a message that presents the extracted state and generatesimage data including the message (an example of presentationinformation, hereinafter referred to as “image data”). The message hascontents such as “Many examples are reported of to ease where abnormalnoise occurs during rotation of the laundry sink, in the same model asthat of your washing machine. Does your machine have any abnormalnoise?”

Note that the aforementioned presentation information may be generatedfor every predetermined period (e.g., 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or thelike) or at a point in time at which the total number of some statesregistered in malfunction/problem state 303 exceeds a threshold.

In step S3, presentation information transmitting section 13 transmitspresentation information (e.g., the above-described image data) to eachdevice 20 via, for example, the Internet. Note that presentationinformation transmitting section 13 stores destination informationaccessible to each device 20 (e.g., IP address or the like) beforehandand transmits image data to each device 20 based on the destinationinformation.

In step S4, presentation information receiving section 21 of device 20receives presentation information (e.g., above-described image data)transmitted from presentation information transmitting section 13. Thereceived image data is stored in the storage section and then read bypresentation section 22 at predetermined timing.

In step S5, presentation section 22 presents the presentationinformation to the user of device 20. For example, presentation section22 displays the above-described image data on the display of device 20as the presentation information. This display example is shown in FIG.5A. As shown in FIG. 5A, device 20 displays an image including a messageindicating that many abnormal noises occur during spin-drying in theplurality of devices 20.

As described above, the present embodiment has a feature of presentinginformation (conventionally, information not provided for the users)relating to malfunctions or problems that have occurred in devicesrespectively used by a plurality of users to users using the same modelas that of the device. Therefore, information relating to a malfunctionor problem that has occurred in a device of a predetermined model can beshared among users using the same model as that of the device.

Note that the following modifications are possible in present Embodiment1.

For example, the presentation information is not only presented in homeappliances relating to the presentation information, but also presentedin other information processing apparatuses (e.g., personal computer,tablet, smartphone) that have nothing to do with the presentationinformation. Alternatively, the presentation information may bepresented only in the above-described other information processingapparatuses.

For example, the malfunction/problem information may be collected notonly from the same model but also from similar models. In that case, thepresentation information is generated based on malfunction/probleminformation collected from devices of the same and similar models. Thus,in addition to malfunctions and problems that have occurred in the samemodel, the presentation information includes also malfunctions andproblems that have occurred in similar models. Moreover, thepresentation information may be transmitted not only to the same modelbut also to similar models. Alternatively, malfunction/probleminformation may be collected for or presentation information may betransmitted to only devices of similar models. Note that a similar modelis a model similar to that of device 20, and is a model of the samebrand, for example. A high-end model and a low-end model of the samebrand have as relationship between similar models.

Furthermore, for example, when extracting a malfunction/problem state tobe presented to the user, presentation information generation section 12may calculate a score not only with the total number but also with thetotal number assigned a predetermined weight, and extract amalfunction/problem state depending on whether or not the score exceedsa threshold, in this way, it is possible to extract importantmalfunctions or problems although the number of reports from other usersis not large.

Furthermore, for example, the presentation information displayed. mayinclude not only a message but also a graph or the like. FIG. 5B showsan example of presentation information including a message and a graph.In FIG. 5B, a bar graph is displayed which defines an operating time ofthe device on the horizontal axis and the number of malfunction cases onthe vertical axis. In this case, the collected malfunction/probleminformation includes an “operating time (time that has elapsed afterstarting to use a device)” in addition to user ID 301 and model ID 302,malfunction/problem state 303 shown in FIG. 4. Upon collectingmalfunction/problem information, presentation information generationsection 12 counts and stores the total number of malfunction/problemstates 303 per operating time (e.g., the number of malfunctionoccurrences in 1-month units). Furthermore, presentation informationgeneration section 12 has to timer function and measures the time thathas elapsed after starting to use device 20 (e.g., when power isinitially turned on) as an operating time. Presentation informationgeneration section 12 expresses in a bar graph, the number ofmalfunction cases counted by the point in time, for example, every onemonth. At this time, the operating times of device 20 may be displayedon the horizontal axis. Thus, the user can figure out within what timedevice 20 used by the user is likely to fail. Note that a probabilitythat a malfunction may occur (hereinafter referred to as “malfunctionrate”) may also be calculated and displayed instead of the number ofmalfunction cases.

For example, the operating times and the number of malfunctionoccurrences (or malfunction rate) may be displayed using a predeterminedimage instead of the graph shown in FIG. 5B. Such specific examples areshown in FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D. FIG. 5C shows the number of malfunctionoccurrences using images schematically illustrating the weather peroperating time. FIG. 5D shows the number of malfunction occurrencesusing images schematically illustrating human expressions per operatingtimes. The four images shown in FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D represent caseswhere the number of malfunction occurrences is “somewhat small,”“small,” “somewhat large,” “large” in order from the left. Such an imagedisplay allows the user to more easily figure out the relationshipbetween the operating time and the number of malfunction occurrences.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 will be described.

First, a configuration example of information providing system 100according to the present embodiment will be described using FIG. 6. FIG.6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of informationproviding system 100. In FIG. 6, components identical to those in FIG. 2are assigned identical reference numerals and description thereof willbe omitted.

Server 10 includes usage log collection section 14 and device remaininglife calculation section 15 in addition to malfunction/probleminformation collection section 11, presentation information generationsection 12 and presentation information transmitting section 13.

Malfunction/problem information collection section 11 collectsmalfunction/problem information and stores the information in a storagesection as in the case of Embodiment 1. However, the malfunction/probleminformation collected in the present embodiment includes detectedcontents 304 and operating 305 in addition to 301 to 303 shown in FIG.4. The malfunction/problem information will be described later usingFIG. 9.

Usage log collection section 14 collects usage logs of device 20 andstores the usage logs in the storage section (not shown) (e.g.,corresponding to RAM 1005 or storage apparatus 1006 in FIG. 12). Detailsof usage logs will be described later using FIG. 10.

Device remaining life calculation section 15 reads themalfunction/problem information collected by malfunction/probleminformation collection section 11 and the usage logs collected by usagelog collection section 14 from the storage section. Device remaininglife calculation section 15 newly creates or updates (hereinafter simplyreferred to as “generates”) a malfunction rate curve based on themalfunction/problem information and the usage logs. After that, deviceremaining life calculation section 15 calculates a remaining life ofdevice 20 or a malfunction rate within a predetermined period of device20 based on the malfunction rate curve. Specific calculation examples ofthe remaining life and the malfunction rate will be described later.

Here, the malfunction rate curve generated by device remaining lifecalculation section 15 will be described. An example of this malfunctionrate curve is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates a malfunction ratecurve calculated beforehand about device 20 and an identical modelthereof. In FIG. 7, the vertical axis shows a malfunction rate and thehorizontal axis shows an operating time. The malfunction rate curve hasa shape like a cross section of a bath tub, and is therefore called a“bath tub curve.” Period “a” is called an “initial malfunction period”and is a period during which a high malfunction rate drasticallydecreases. The start point of period is an operation start time ofdevice 20. During this period “a,” initial malfunctions occur due todesign defect, manufacturing defect, material defect or the like. Period“b” is called a “random malfunction period” and is a period during whicha low malfunction rate is kept substantially constant. Period “c” iscalled a “wear-out malfunction period” and is a period during which alow malfunction rate drastically increases. An end point of this period“e” is a time at which the life of device 20 comes to an end. Duringthis period “c,” wear-out malfunctions occur due to wear-out, fatigue,deterioration or the like. Period “d” is a period from the start pointof period “a” to the end point of period “e,” and corresponds to thelife (operation time) of device 20. Note that the malfunction rate curveshown in FIG. 7 is a default (when device 20 is used without occurrenceof any malfunction or problem) malfunction rate curve.

Presentation information generation section 12 generates presentationinformation including the remaining life and/or malfunction ratecalculated by device remaining life calculation section 15. Specificexamples of generation and display of the presentation information willbe described later.

Device 20 includes detection section 23 and usage log transmittingsection 24 in addition to presentation informal on receiving section 21and presentation section 22.

Detection section 23 is, for example, a sensor that detects apredetermined event (an event that can cause a malfunction or problem)when device 20 is used. When device 20 is a washing machine, device 20is provided with, for example, a water quality sensor, weight sensor,button sensor as detection section 23. The water quality sensor is asensor capable of detecting that turbidity of water in a laundry sinkreaches or exceeds a threshold. On the other hand, the weight sensor isa sensor capable of detecting that the weight of articles placed in thelaundry sink reaches or exceeds a threshold. The button sensor is asensor capable of detecting that as button provided for device 20 (e.g.,power supply button, pause button) has been operated during rotation ofthe laundry sink.

Usage log transmitting section 24 links detected contents detected bydetection section 23 (e.g., turbidity of water, overweight) with thetime of detection (year/month/day and time measured by the timerfunction of device 20) and generates a usage log. Usage log transmittingsection 24 then transmits the usage log generated to server 10 throughwireless communication or wired communication. Details of the usage logwill be described later using FIG. 10.

Next, an operation example of information providing system 100 accordingto the present embodiment will be described using FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is assequence diagram illustrating an operation example of informationproviding system 100 of the present embodiment Note that as an exampleof device 20, a washing machine will be described below. A case will bedescribed below as an example where a usage log is collected from one ofa plurality of devices 20 of the same model.

In step S1, malfunction/problem information collection section 11 ofserver 10 collects malfunction/problem information and stores theinformation in the storage section. However, as described above, themalfunction/problem information collected here includes detectedcontents 304 and operating 305 in addition to user ID 301, 302 andmalfunction/problem state 303 as shown in FIG. 9. Detected contents 304refers to information indicating contents detected by theabove-described sensor in device 20. Operating time 305 refers to a timethat has elapsed after starting to use device 20 as described above.

In step S11, detection section 23 of device 20 performs various types ofdetection when device 20 is used. Examples of contents detected hereinclude turbidity of water in the laundry sink, overweight in thelaundry sink and rotation stopping operation during rotation of thelaundry sink as described above.

In step S12, usage log transmitting section 24 links the contentsdetected by detection section 23 to the time of detection to generate ausage log (for a specific example, see FIG. 10 which will be describedlater), and transmits the usage log to server 10 via the Internet, forexample.

In step S13, usage log collection section 14 collects a usage log fromdevice 20 via, for example, the Internet. This usage log collection isdone by receiving the usage log from device 20 via, for example, theInternet.

Usage log collection section 14 then creates a data table that listsusage logs collected from device 20 and stores the data table in thestorage section. An example of this data table is shown in FIG. 10. FIG.10 shows an example of listing of collected usage logs.

In FIG. 10, the usage log includes date and time 701 and detectedcontents 702. Date and time 701 is information indicating the time(year, month, day and time) of detection of detected contents 702 bydevice 20. Detected contents 702 are information indicating contentsdetected by device 20.

In step S14, device remaining life calculation section 15 generates amalfunction rate curve based on the malfunction/problem informationcollected by malfunction/problem information collection section 11 andthe usage log collected by usage log collection section 14 and thencalculates the remaining life of device 20 based on the malfunction ratecurve. A specific example of this operation will be described below.

First, device remaining life calculation section 15 reads the data tableof usage logs (e.g., data table in FIG. 10) from the storage section,calculates the total number per detected contents 702 from the datatable and identifies detected contents 702 whose total number is equalto or greater than a threshold. Here, suppose that detected contents 702of, for example, “overweight,” is identified.

Next, device remaining life calculation section 15 reads a data table ofmalfunction/problem information (e.g., data table shown in FIG. 9) fromthe storage section and searches for same detected contents 304 asidentified detected contents 702 in the data table. For example, when,for example, “overweight” is identified as detected contents 702, deviceremaining life calculation section 15 searches for detected contents 304that corresponds to “overweight” in FIG. 9. Device remaining lifecalculation section 15 then calculates a malfunction rate and anoperating (life “d”) in the malfunction rate curve based onmalfunction/problem state 303 and operating times 305 corresponding todetected contents 304 searched for.

First, a specific example of calculating a malfunction rate will bedescribed. Device remaining life calculation section 15 calculates thetotal number of detected contents 304 searched for (hereinafter referredto as “the number of detected contents”). Device remaining lifecalculation section 15 calculates the total number ofmalfunction/problem states 303 corresponding to detected contents 304searched for, which indicate malfunction/problem states (hereinafterreferred to as “the number of malfunctions/problems”) by operating time305. For example, in FIG. 9, in a case where malfunction/problem state303 indicates “abnormal noise during, rotation of the laundry sink,”device remaining life calculation section 15 regards it as a caseindicating a malfunction/problem state and counts the case, whereas in acase where malfunction/problem state 303 indicates “nomalfunction/problem” device remaining life calculation section 15regards it as a case not indicating, a malfunction/problem state anddoes not count the case. Device remaining life calculation section 15calculates the number of malfunctions/problem informations/the number ofdetected malfunctions/problems for each operating time and therebycalculates a malfunction rate by operating time.

Next, a specific example of life “d” is calculated. Ofmalfunction/problem states 303 corresponding to searched detectedcontents 304, device remaining life calculation section 15 calculates anaverage of operating times 305 corresponding to malfunction/problemstates 303 indicating malfunction/problem states. Device remaining lifecalculation section 15 then regards the calculated average value as life“d.” The malfunction rate curve generated in this way has shorter life“d” than the malfunction rate curve shown in FIG. 7.

The malfunction rate curve generated as described above becomes a curvereflecting malfunction/problem information of a plurality of users usingthe same model as that of device 20. Note that the malfunction ratecurve newly created through the above-described procedure is updatedperiodically or when a new usage log or malfunction/problem informationis collected in the same way as the procedure when a new malfunctionrate curve is created.

Next, device remaining life calculation section 15 measures a time thathas elapsed after starting to use device 20 (e.g., when power isinitially turned on) using a timer function as an operating time. Deviceremaining life calculation section 15 then calculates a differencebetween life “d” indicated by the malfunction rate curve and theoperating time as a remaining life (period until the life of device 20comes to an end).

Note that device remaining life calculation section 15 may alsocalculate a malfunction rate within a predetermined period of device 20other than the remaining life of device 20 (see FIG. 11A). For example,device remaining life calculation section 15 calculates a malfunctionrate within a predetermined period based on the measured operating time(start point) and a specified value (end point) indicating apredetermined period and a curve between the start point and the endpoint in the malfunction rate curve.

A specific example of the processing in step S14 has been described sofar.

In step S2, presentation information generation section 12 generatespresentation information as described in FIG. 3. However, suppose thatthe presentation information generated in the present embodimentincludes the remaining life and/or malfunction rate calculated by deviceremaining life calculation section 15. For example, presentationinformation generation section 12 generates image data including theremaining life and/or malfunction rate in a fixed phrase message.

Since steps S3, S4 and S5 are the same as described in FIG. 3, adescription herein will be omitted.

Examples of displayed presentation information in step S5 are shown inFIG. 11A and FIG. 11B.

FIG. 11A shows an example of displayed contents when the overweightdetection frequency exceeds a threshold. The displayed contents includeno displaying of the remaining life but include displaying of amalfunction rate within a predetermined period (malfunction probabilitywithin a half year is 40%) included in a fixed phrase message.

On the other hand, FIG. 11B shows an example of displayed contents of acase where all detection frequencies are less than the threshold. Thereis no displaying of a malfunction rate within a predetermined period,but the remaining life (3 years) is displayed included in a fixed phrasemessage. Note that the numerical value of “2 years” in FIG. 11B is avalue calculated by device remaining life calculation section 15independently of the remaining life and the malfunction rate. This valueis an average value of remaining lives calculated for each user, forexample.

As described above, the present embodiment has a feature of calculatinga remaining life of a device based on information relating tomalfunctions or problems that have occurred in devices used by aplurality of users respectively (information conventionally not providedfor the users) and a usage log of the user, and providing informationincluding the remaining life to the user. Conventionally, it has beenimpossible to accurately calculate remaining lives of home appliancesdue to the existence of latent problems unanticipated by a maker in anew model or a new function or when users use home appliances in the wayunexpected by the maker. However, according to the present embodiment,it is possible to calculate accurate remaining lives with theabove-described feature even if there are latent problems or users usehome appliances in the way unexpected by the maker.

Note that the following modifications are possible in present Embodiment2.

For example, the presentation information may be presented not only onhome appliances related to the presentation information but also onother information processing apparatuses (e.g., personal computer,tablet, smartphone) having nothing to do with the presentationinformation. Alternatively, the presentation information may bepresented on the above-described other information processingapparatuses alone.

For example, the malfunction/problem information may be allowed to becollected not only from the same model but also from similar models(e.g., models similar to that of device 20). In that case, the remaininglife of the device and the malfunction rate of the device within apredetermined period are calculated based on malfunction/probleminformation collected from devices of the same model and similar models.Furthermore, the presentation information may be transmitted not only tohome appliances of the same model related, to the presentationinformation but also to home appliances of similar models.Alternatively, malfunction/problem information may be collected for orpresentation information may be transmitted to only similar devices.

Furthermore, for example, when device 20 is a home appliance other thana washing machine, detection sections 23 ma be as shown below. Whendevice 20 is, for example, a refrigerator, a storage amount sensor isapplicable as detection section 23. The storage amount sensor is asensor provided in a refrigeration room, capable of detecting, whenilluminance in the refrigeration room is low, that the filling factor inthe refrigeration room is high. When device 20 is, for example, amicrowave oven, a dirt sensor is applicable as detection section 23. Thedirt sensor is a sensor capable of detecting that oil spots, waterdroplets or the like are adhered to the interior of the refrigerator,the area around the refrigerator, the water supply tank or the like.

When extracting detected contents from a usage log, device remaininglife calculation section 15 may not only calculate the total number ofdetected contents included in the usage log but also assign apredetermined weight to the total number, calculate a score and extractdetected contents based on whether or not the score exceeds a threshold.In this way, it is possible to extract detected contents leading toimportant malfunctions or problems although the number of reports fromother users is not large.

Furthermore, for example, the remaining life and the malfunction ratecalculated by device remaining life calculation section 15 may beincluded in the presentation information of Embodiment 1, and thenpresented to the user.

For example, the remaining life calculated by remaining life calculationsection 15 may be made shorter according to the detection frequency ofdetected contents, degree of importance of the detected contents or thelike.

Although Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention have beendescribed above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings,the respective functions of aforementioned server 10 and device 20 canbe implemented by a computer program.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computerthat implements the functions of the respective apparatuses using aprogram. This computer 1000 is provided, with input apparatus 1001 suchas a keyboard, mouse or touch pad, output apparatus 1002 such as adisplay or speaker, central processing unit (CPU) 1003, read only memory(ROM) 1004, and random access memory (RAM) 1005. Computer 1000 is alsoprovided with storage apparatus 1006 such as a hard disk apparatus or asolid state drive (SSD), reading apparatus 1007 that reads informationfrom a recording medium such as digital versatile disk read only memory(DVD-ROM) or universal serial bus (USB) memory and network card 1008that performs communication via a network. The above-described sectionsare connected via bus 1009.

Reading apparatus 1007 reads a program for implementing theabove-described functions of the apparatuses from a recording mediumstoring the program and causes storage apparatus 1006 to store theprogram. Alternatively, network card 1008 communicates with a serverapparatus connected to a network and causes storage apparatus 1006 tostore a program for implementing the above-described functions of theapparatuses.

CPU 1003 then copies the program stored in storage apparatus 1006 to RAM1005, sequentially reads and executes instructions included in theprogram from RAM 1005, and thereby implements the above-describedfunctions of the apparatuses.

The techniques described in the foregoing embodiments can also beimplemented in the following cloud service types, for example. However,the types in which the techniques described in the foregoing embodimentsare implemented are not limited to them.

(Service Type 1: In-House Data Center Type)

FIG. 13 illustrates service type 1 (in-house data center type). Thistype is a type in which service provider 120 acquires information fromgroup 90 and provides a service to a user. In this type, serviceprovider 120 has a function of a data center operating company. That is,service provider 120 owns cloud server 111 that manages big data.Therefore, no data center operating company exists.

In the present type, service provider 120 operates and manages a datacenter (cloud server 111) (203). Service provider 120 manages OS (202)and application (201). Service provider 120 provides a service using theOS (202) and the application (201) managed by service provider 120(204).

(Service Type 2: Type Using IaaS)

FIG. 14 illustrates service type 2 (type using IaaS). Here, IaaS is anabbreviation of infrastructure as a service and is a cloud serviceproviding model that provides an infrastructure itself for constructingand operating a computer system as a service via the Internet.

In the present type, data center operating company 110 operates andmanages a data center (cloud server 111) (203). Service provider 120manages OS (202) and application (201). Service provider 120 provides aservice using the OS (202) and the application (201) managed by serviceprovider 120 (204).

(Service Type 3: Type Using PaaS)

FIG. 15 illustrates service type 3 (type using PaaS). Here, PaaS is anabbreviation of a platform as a service and is a cloud service providingmodel that provides a platform that serves as a basis for constructingand operating software as a service via the Internet.

In the present type, data center operating company 110 manages OS (202)and operates and manages a data center (Cloud server 111) (203).Furthermore, service provider 120 manages application (201). Serviceprovider 120 provides a service using the OS (202) managed by datacenter operating company 110 and the application (201) managed byservice provider 120 (204).

(Service Type 4: Type Using SaaS)

FIG. 6 illustrates service type 4 (type using SaaS). Here, SaaS is anabbreviation of software as a service. For example, SaaS is a cloudservice providing model having a function that allows, for example, acompany or individual (user) who does not own any data center (cloudserver 111) to use application 201 provided by a platform provider whoowns the data center (cloud server 111) via a network such as theInternet.

In the present type, data center operating company 110 manages theapplication (201), manages OS (202), and operates and manages a datacenter (cloud server 111) (203). Service provider 120 provides a serviceusing the OS (202) and the application (201) managed by data centeroperating company 110 (204).

In all the above-described types, suppose that service provider 120performs action of providing a service. For example, service provider120 or data center operating company 10 may develop OS 202, application201 or a database of big data on its own or outsource such developmentto a third party.

The present invention is not limited to the description of theabove-described embodiments and can be modified without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-177694 filed onAug. 29, 2013, including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is suitable for use in a technique of providinginformation relating to home appliances to users (e.g. apparatus,system, method, and program or the like).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1, 2 User-   10 Server-   11 Malfunction/problem information collection section-   12 Presentation information generation section-   13 Presentation information transmitting section-   14 Usage log collection section-   15 Device remaining life calculation section-   20 Device-   21 Presentation information receiving section-   22 Presentation section-   23 Detection section-   24 Usage log transmitting section-   90 Group-   91 Device-   92 Home gateway-   100 Information providing system-   110 Cloud server-   111 Cloud server-   120 Service provider-   121 Server-   201 Application-   202 OS-   203 Data center-   204 Service provision-   301 User ID-   302 Model ID-   303 Malfunction/problem state-   304 Detected contents-   305 Operating time-   701 Date and time-   702 Detected contents-   1000 Computer-   1001 Input apparatus-   1002 Output apparatus-   1003 CPU-   1004 ROM-   1005 RAM-   1006 Storage apparatus-   1007 Reading apparatus-   1008 Network card-   1009 Bus

1-13. (canceled)
 14. An information providing apparatus that providesinformation to a user using a predetermined device, the apparatuscomprising: a presentation information receiving section that receivespresentation information associated with the device and generated by aserver apparatus and stores the presentation information in apredetermined storage section; and a presentation section that presentsthe presentation information read from the storage section to the user,wherein the presentation information is information that indicates anumber of occurrences or a rate of occurrence of malfunctions orproblems that have occurred in a model identical to that of the deviceused by another user in correspondence with a plurality of operatingtimes, indicates that one of the plurality of operating times is acurrent operating time of the device and indicates that the plurality ofoperating times include a time after a predetermined time period fromthe current operating time of the device.
 15. The information providingapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the presentation informationincludes information indicating a malfunction or problem whose number oftimes of occurrence is equal to or greater than a threshold amongmalfunctions or problems that have occurred in the model identical tothat of the device.
 16. The information providing apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the presentation information includes informationindicating that a total number of malfunctions or problems that haveoccurred in the model identical to that of the device is counted peroperating time of the model identical to that of the device.
 17. Theinformation providing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein thepresentation information includes information indicating a malfunctionor problem that has occurred in a model similar to that of the device inaddition to a malfunction or problem that has occurred in the modelidentical to that of the device.
 18. The information providing apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the presentation information includesinformation indicating at least one of a remaining life of the deviceand a malfunction rate within a predetermined period of the device. 19.A server apparatus comprising: a malfunction/problem informationcollection section that collects malfunction/problem informationindicating malfunctions or problems that have occurred in devices usedby a plurality of users, respectively, and stores themalfunction/problem information in a predetermined storage section; apresentation information generation section that generates presentationinformation indicating malfunctions or problems that have occurred inthe devices based on the malfunction/problem information read from thestorage section; and a presentation information transmitting sectionthat transmits the presentation information to an apparatus used by auser using a model identical to that of the device, wherein thepresentation information is information that indicates a number ofoccurrences or a rate of occurrence of malfunctions or problems thathave occurred in a model identical to that of the devices used by theplurality of users in correspondence with a plurality of operatingtimes, indicates that one of the plurality of operating times is acurrent operating time of the device used by a user to whom thepresentation information is sent and indicates that the plurality ofoperating times include a time after a predetermined time period fromthe current operating time of the device used by the user.
 20. Theserver apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the presentationinformation generation section sums up malfunctions or problemsindicated by the malfunction/problem information by type and generatesthe presentation information so as to include information indicating amalfunction or problem whose result of summing up is determined to beequal to or greater than a threshold.
 21. The server apparatus accordingto claim 19, wherein the presentation information generation sectiongenerates the presentation information so as to include informationobtained by counting the total number of malfunctions or problemsindicated by the malfunction/problem information per operating time ofthe model identical to that of the device.
 22. The server apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein: the malfunction/problem informationcollection section collects malfunction/problem information not onlyfrom the model identical to that of the device but also from modelssimilar to that of the devices respectively used by the plurality ofusers, and the presentation information generation section generates thepresentation information so as to include information indicating amalfunction or problem that has occurred in the model identical to thatof the device and models similar to that of the device.
 23. The serverapparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a usage logcollection section that collects a usage log of one of the devices; anda remaining life calculation section that calculates at least one of aremaining life and a malfunction rate within a predetermined period ofthe device whose usage log has been collected, based on themalfunction/problem information and the usage log, wherein: thepresentation information generation section generates informationindicating at least one of the remaining life and the malfunction ratewithin the predetermined period so as to be included in the presentationinformation, and the presentation information transmitting sectiontransmits the presentation information to an apparatus used by the userof the device whose usage log has been collected.
 24. The serverapparatus according to claim 23, wherein: the malfunction/probleminformation collection section collects malfunction/problem informationalso from a model similar to that of the device used by another user inaddition to the identical model, the remaining life calculation sectioncalculates at least one of the remaining life of the device and themalfunction rate within a predetermined period of the device calculatedbased on the malfunctions or problems that have occurred in theidentical model and the similar model and the usage log of the device,and the presentation information generation section generates thepresentation information so as to include information indicating atleast one of the remaining life of the device and the malfunction ratewithin a predetermined period of the device.
 25. An informationproviding method to be performed in a server apparatus disposed on anetwork, the method comprising: collecting malfunction/probleminformation indicating malfunctions or problems that have occurred indevices used by a plurality of users, respectively, and storing themalfunction/problem information in a predetermined storage section;generating presentation information indicating the malfunctions orproblems that have occurred in the devices based on themalfunction/problem information read from the storage section; andtransmitting the presentation information to an apparatus used by a userusing the model identical to that of the device, wherein thepresentation information is information that indicates a number ofoccurrences or a rate of occurrence of malfunctions or problems thathave occurred in a model identical to that of the devices used by theplurality of users in correspondence with a plurality of operatingtimes, indicates that one of the plurality of operating times is acurrent operating time of the device used by a user to whom thepresentation information is sent and indicates that the plurality ofoperating times include a time after a predetermined time period fromthe current operating time of the device used by the user.